Former New Zealand batter David White, who served as New Zealand Cricket chief executive for more than a decade, is now the CEO of the ILT20, which recently became first Associate-run T20 league to be given the List A status by the ICC. David White, thus, understands the predicament cricket boards are confronted with.
In a chat with ESPNCricinfo this week, David White talks about the progress the ILT20 has made in its second season, including the success of UAE players, how the tournament is looking at all options for a window to maximise player availability, and whether bilateral cricket is actually being threatened by leagues.
The International League T20 (IL T20) has chosen to respond to Graeme Smith who, in his own words, ‘badmouthed’ the UAE league. David White, the CEO of the IL T20 stated that the tournament has massively benefited cricket in the country, and continues to play a vital role every time major cricket tournaments around the world are in need of late support.
Graeme Smith take on ILT20 clash with SA20 2025
SA20 commissioner and former South Africa captain Graeme Smith believes leagues like UAE’s ILT20 are not good for the game as there’s no investment back into growing the game locally. The third season of SA20 begins on Thursday and is in a direct clash with ILT20 yet again.
T20 franchise leagues that do not field a majority of locally based players are “not good for the game”, according to SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith. Speaking ahead of the league’s third season, which, once again, clashes directly with the UAE’s ILT20, Smith argued that what sets the SA20 apart is how rooted it is in the South African system and what it does for the country’s cricket.
When it comes to Indians and hosting them, South Africa has been a great friend to India in terms of the same. Right from their return to international cricket post Apartheid in 1992 to hosting India’s premier T20 league IPL in 2009 due to general elections in India, the rainbow nation with its set of huge Indian fan base been a welcome friend for India.
With the most talked league at the moment in the cricketing circuits, the SAT20 league which is role modeled on India’s own Indian Premier league (IPL) post its successful first season is turning out to be a spectacle for viewers across the globe in the ongoing second season with the matches between teams owned by IPL franchise owners going down to wire producing great results.
Former South Africa captain and SA20 Commissioner Graeme Smith criticized the International League T20 (ILT20 ) for banking almost entirely on overseas talent, and not utilizing local players enough to assist the cricket’s growth in the country. The SA20 and the ILT20 have been clashing from January to February since 2023, and have been embroiled in the race to become the second-most prolific franchise-based league behind the IPL.
South Africa’s franchise-based tournament has attracted controversy in the past, with the Proteas opting to forfeit bilateral affairs in the process. However, it has also led to the emergence of several players who are part of the T20I side’s pipeline at the moment In a structure similar to the majority of the T20 leagues around the world, SA20 franchises are allowed to field four overseas players in the playing XI. Thus the playing Xi largely comprises of local players.
The ICC implemented an overseas players cap for T20 leagues but associate nations’ franchise tournaments like the ILT20 and the Major League Cricket (MLC) were exempted from this rule. However ILT20 CEO David White has strongly opposed Graeme Smith’s view regarding the same.
IL T20 chief David White strongly debunks Graeme Smith’s criticism of the league
International League T20 (ILT20) CEO David White responded to Graeme Smith’s comments about the UAE-based league. The legendary former Proteas captain took a dig at the tournament, stating that the league is not good for cricket.
In response, White stated that it is not their policy to talk about other leagues. He said that the ILT20 is the world’s only league that gives players from associate nations the platform to showcase their talent.
“Oh, Mr. Smith, it’s not our policy to speak about other leagues. We are the only league in the world that provides a platform for the associate countries to participate at this level. We’ve got players from Nepal, Malaysia, USA, Scotland, Netherlands, Namibia and Italy,” the ILT20 CEO told Cricbuzz.
Smith had criticized the league, stating that there is no investment into local cricket. White hit back at the South African, saying that he should look at the importance the league has in bringing growth to cricket in the UAE.
“Listen, he’s entitled to his comments, but I just think that his comments have been made without doing any investigation, maybe he should have taken the time to look at what we’re looking to achieve, what we are achieving and the importance that this league has in terms of the growth of cricket in the UAE, the wider Gulf and the international game.
It’s easy to dismiss the influence of the UAE. The UAE has got unbelievable facilities and privately invested facilities, and it is the backstop for all the ICC events,” he said.
The CEO also highlighted the fact that major tournaments are hosted by the UAE whenever they face issues at the originally decided venues.
“At the drop of a hat, whether it’s the Bangladesh riots or the Champions Trophy or the IPL or COVID or whatever… they come to the UAE. It’s a turnkey solution. Beautiful stadiums, beautiful facilities, great training facilities, and of course, the UAE is very happy to host that. The contribution that the UAE makes to the global game is massive.”
Emirates Board is investing in grassroots cricket too, explains ILT20 CEO David White
Talking about Smith’s claim that there is no investment being made into local cricket, ILT20 CEO David White explained how the Emirates Board is involved in grassroots cricket.
“What we’ve done, we had 300 players registered for a development tournament, of which we had a draft after that. And 25 players have been selected to participate in ILT20. These players are going to rub shoulders with the best players in the world, fantastic coaches, and already the national team, I believe on the back of this experience they’ve had at ILT20, they’ve improved. They have qualified for the first time in eight years to play in the Asia Cup,” he said.
David White added that the league is also making key investments in the community game. He stated that they not only invest in school festivals but have also reintroduced the secondary school competition.
“The other thing that we’ve done with ILT20 is that we’re significantly investing in the community game and the wider Gulf region. We now invest in school festivals. We’ve reintroduced the secondary schools competition ILT20, and we’ve supported the Gulf Cup as well financially.”
David White was speaking on the eve of the third edition of the league which kicks off at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday with a game between MI Emirates and Dubai Capitals. MI Emirates are the defending champions.